Summertime Crunch

Yep. I'm the worst blogger. I realize this...and I apologize to myself for neglecting this form of therapy. *sigh*

So, let's see.....since my last entry, I've:

1. Secured an AWESOME event coordinator to get me in mental shape and keep me focused: Marquita. She was referred to me by a great friend, Toshia, who does the whole "events thing" for a living. I was desperately searching and finally broke down and asked Toshia for a referral. (Since I'm inviting her to the wedding, I didn't want her to actually do it.) Marquita is a PROFESSIONAL. From Meeting #1, she grasped Keith's and my ideas and hit the ground running. I. Heart. Marquita.

2. Secured a personal trainer who I've decided is sadistic: Joe of Fitness Optimist in Laurel, MD. No, seriously...Joe was a necessity because, after some recent visits to my doc and my cardiologist (long story), it was unanimously decided that I needed to lose weight NOT for my personal vanity, but for my health. Eh. C'est la vie. Anyway, I've been working out with Joe for about a month now, three times a week, and I haven't felt this fit in years. The ADDED benefit will be to LOOK fit, too. Hence, to the dismay of my MOH, I refuse to try on any wedding gowns until at LEAST September.

3. Quit my job and became a full time student. Okay, so not a whole lot to tell here. Basically, just taking a summer course, studying for the Fall Comprehensive (to finally complete my graduate degree), and doing my summer reading for law school (which begins August 12th!).

4. Secured our deposit for the Chapel! YAY! "Going to the Cha-pel and we're...gonna get ma-a-arried..."

5. Had a food tasting with our caterer. One word: Yum. The Man and I are so pleased with our menu selection that I wish WE were guests to this wedding! Unfortunately, we probably won't get to really eat much at the reception...or so I hear. I figure if people really know me, they'd back AWAY from the Feasting Bride!! *grrr*

6. Had our engagement photo session. Erin Scott is great at what she does and impressed me with the final photo selections. I actually scored the session with Erin through Groupon, which is this great site for awesome deals. Case-in-point: her usual $300 session only cost us $75. Unfortunately, she's so great, we want to use her for the wedding....however, we most likely couldn't fit her in our budget!

7. Created our wedding website...which is still majorly under construction! The Man needs to work on his bio and I need to make mine sound less "resume-y" and more....life-lovin' ME. LOL

8. Secured our monogram:

9. Designed our Save-the-Dates' final version WITH the monogram and WITHOUT the card sleeve (cost cutting measure).

10. Figured out the bridesmaids' dresses, have an idea about their bouquets, and decided on a few ceremony things.

11. Lastly, but CERTAINLY not least, the Man and I have begun our premarital counseling. We first met with Leora Motley for an initial consultation a two weeks ago. She has a wonderful spirit about her and we're both considering asking her to officiate our ceremony!

So, I'm back on the grind with wedding planning, school planning, and future planning, while enjoying this guy I love. :-)

Thanks, Joaquina, for the reminder to update my page. I'll try to be better. ;-)

The "Wedding Wall"

The other night, after I left class, I decided to stop at Barnes & Noble bookstore on my way home for a "quick" purchase.

I'd come to the conclusion that it was time to get organized. All of these DIY projects floating around in my head and I had YET to put them all in one reliable place.

The problem is that the wedding industry freaks me out.

Now, to understand how this should make you scratch your head, you should know that years ago, a close friend and I realized we loved weddings so much, we wanted to help people plan them. So, we took some courses and started a business. LIFE pretty much happened, and that idea faded away, but since then, I've planned (or helped plan) and been a member of MANY MANY MANY weddings. Not only that, but I started a nonprofit organization that would assist with the event planning needs of developing nonprofits!

However, once my guy dropped to one knee, all of that history and wisdom apparently flew out the window. What's left is a woman who loves planning other people's weddings and is overwhelmed at the prospect of planning her own. Weird, huh?

Anyway, THIS is what greeted me in Barnes and Noble that fateful evening:


The dreaded "Wedding Wall" or the section of the book giant of over one million books that creeps me out.



I mean, seriously....LOOK AT THAT THING!!! It's hideously overwhelming to just stand in front of. There are about two rows at the top of "wedding planners"...all ridiculously gargantuan. I mean, really....who wants to run around town with a binder the size of the family Bible that sits on coffee tables?! Certainly, not I.



Two hours later (yes, two hours of pouring threw each planner/responsibilities/etiquette/design book imaginable, determining which would give me the biggest bang for my buck), I came across this little winner.

The best part? It was only $17.95 (as opposed to $40 for the other HUGE planners) and it'll fit in my handbag! And, did I mention? The first thing this little blessing told me to do was to save my money and MAKE my own binder for storing everything, using a 2" 3-ring binder with tabbed pocket folders for each aspect of the wedding (photography, catering, cake, etc). *sigh*

Sweet organized-and-frugal bliss.

The Paper Source

Wow. Sunday was interesting.

My MOH and I headed to Annapolis to check out their Paper Source and were immediately overwhelmed by the possibilities. I am THE WORST when it comes to decisions. And trying to choose paper styles, colors, sizes...ugh. Fortunately, we caught a workshop on embossing, using rubber stamps that day.

By the end of the day, (with our belly's full from Brio...y'all KNOW I'm a foodie!), we were giggling with our newly acquired embossing skill and she was eyeing my embossing heat tool enviously (and promising to get her own). Now, we're on the hunt for the perfect monogram to have it designed for the rubber stamp. I want something that says "scholar" with an "artistic" twist...and still be SIMPLE. So far, I found this:

Wish me luck...!

FH's response to my giddiness over the embossing project? "Aw, nice, babe!" with a slight look of apprehension...as though he were worried I'd ask him to do the crafting or something. I can only imagine the micro-management on my part. A disaster, I assure you.

In his defense, he surprised me Saturday and took me on a used book store scavenger hunt down in Dupont Circle so we could look for books to serve as centerpieces. AND he came up with an awesome idea to categorize the tables by book genre, as opposed to using table numbers. I LOVED it! And loved him even more once he started finding books (before I did, by the way) and categorizing them. So, now I need to decide what the design will be for those signs.

Since then, we've decided on the following:

1. Save the Date Cards that look like library check out cards. Inspiration (click the photo to visit their website):

2. Pocket invitations (I. Love. Organized. Information.) Inspiration (click the photo to visit their website):

I've emailed the BMs to let them know about my DIY High and so far, they're all gung ho about the fun we're gonna have. Hmm....I'd better provide plenty of good food and music to keep them in the fun-lovin' spirit!

The Race is On...

Well, it's been an interesting past few months. This winter has pummeled the Washington, D.C. region with tons of snow and a feeling of laziness has accompanied our being snowbound indoors for lengthy weeks.

But, despite the piles of snow on the sides of passageways that remain towering above my 5'5" frame, I am feeling a little "spring-y". And with Spring comes change. And with change comes the realization that I need to GET CRACKIN' ON THIS WEDDING!!!

The fact is that I have until August of this year (the first week, at that) to get as much done for the wedding before hanging up ALL planning until the middle of December. Why? Well, five words: First Semester of Law School. :-( I doubt seriously that I'll give two cranberries about a wedding while I'm crying my lights out over Torts.

Once December ends, I have until the middle of January before returning for my SECOND semester. And then I won't touch the wedding again until May.

Oh, and I forgot to mention: we've "upped" our date to July of 2011 (tentatively) because my dear FH (Future Husband) would like to immediately go on our honeymoon, as opposed to waiting until the subsequent December (after Fall-2L ends).

So, now, what do we have? 8 months total time to plan this wedding. So, OUT THE WINDOW flies the luxury we previously spoke of, in having sooooo much time. :-/

Currently, I'm on the hunt for a coordinator...because I fear that any prior wedding planning experience on my part will mean absolutely nothing on the day of our nuptials. Unfortunately, the going rate for professional coordinators starts around $1200 and, while FH thinks I should have someone help to relieve the stress, even he thinks that is a bit steep. I mean, really. I've done this countless times. What on earth justifies my doing EVERYTHING (down to handing you the centerpieces and explaining their construction) and then paying you over a thousand bucks to virtually stand with a clipboard and a headset and boss people around???

Clearly, I'm in the wrong line of career ambition. I think some lawyers make less than that!

Anyway, on top of that, FH and I are trying to narrow down our vendors.

All I can say is that I used to LOVE this kinda stuff. But right now.....eh, not-so-much!